Yesterday while picking up coins a teller gave me a foreign coin she had been saving for me. I had no idea where it was from. I had some guesses based on the motifs used, but I didn't recognize the script. It took a bit of searching, but finally I discovered it was an Ethiopian 25¢. A new country for me! The eleventh of the year.



Other than that my coins were pretty boring yesterday.

50 small dollars had one mint set dollar (2006P).

3,720 quarters produced two Canadians, two US nickels and one US dime.

3,400 dimes yielded me one silver Rosie (1959) and six Canadians.

1,560 nickels rounded up five (3 Ni) Canadians.

8,600 pennies landed me one proof (1993S), sixty Wheats, nine Canadians, eleven US dimes, one Euro 2¢ and one UK penny (1971).

1912, 1920, 1935(2), 1937, 1940(3), 1941(2), 1942(4), 1944(7), 1945(4), 1946(2), 1946D, 1948, 1948D, 1950, 1951, 1951D, 1952(3), 1952D, 1953D, 1955(2), 1956, 1956D(3), 1957D(6), 1958(4), 1958D(6)

Found: two pennies

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! Round one is over and round two is just around the corner. It was a good Christmas for us.

Christmas for me began on the 23rd. I had a great time taking the kids shopping on Friday. Henry was very excited to find a pair of earrings for Meg (he blew the secret and then later insisted she put them on). I was surprised I could get as much shopping as I could with them in tow. They definitely surprise me with patience sometimes.

On Christmas Eve we went to church early. Greg, Evan and I participated in our church's Christmas pageant. I was a shepard with one live sheep to lead to the front of the church and back. Afterwards we went to my sister's for supper. Meg and I wrapped presents when we got home.

The next morning all the gifts were under the tree when the kids woke up. We waited a bit and then opened them all up. The kids were much more into unwrapping than last year. Hazel did an excellent job (she even unwrapped on of Aunt Jess's gifts) and Henry didn't want to stop. If you ask Henry if Santa came to our house he'll still tell you he didn't, but I'm pretty sure he got his full share of stuff. After a special breakfast we went to Nana and Grandpa's for dinner, present unwrapping and much playing.

The spirit continued the next day when we had a supper at our house for Uncle Steve, Aunt Susan and cousin Rhea.

Now we're pretty beat, but very excited to enjoy the holiday with the rest of our family. I'm sure Henry and Hazel are ready for more presents!



Henry and cousin Liam posing for the camera.



Hazel in her Christmas mini-skirt.



Henry very excited about a package of Swedish fish he got. Hazel was just as excited about her package of gummy fish. I'm not sure both of them knew what they were. Hazel insisted on napping with her package.



Hazel looking on as Henry unwraps his big train present. At one point Henry exclaimed, "you got exactly what I wanted!" At other points he seemed a bit confused and was suggesting for some reason that all our presents had come from Nana. When we told them they didn't he didn't seem to mind, but told us he wanted to bring them all to Nana's house and asked if the gifts he opened at her house could be brought home.



An action shot of Hazel unwrapping. She's really pretty good at it.



I spent a good chunk of the day putting toys together. It was a lot of fun for me. Meg made us a special Christmas breakfast while I played with the train.



Henry showing me his gift from Uncle Jim and Aunt Carol. He didn't quite get that I wanted a picture of his face and the gift.



Nicole took this picture of Hazel in her Christmas outfit.

12 small dollars had nothing.

8,025 half dollars turned up just one 40% silver half (1967).

5,760 quarters produced six Canadians, two US dimes and one US nickel.

5,150 dimes turned up one silver Rosie (1961), four Canadians and one Polish 10 Grozy.

2,840 nickels yielded two dateless Buffaloes and four Canadians.

Found: 2 pennies

2,400 quarters had two Canadians and one US nickel.

1,200 dimes rounded up one Canadian and one US penny.

1,040 nickels yielded two Canadians (1 Ni).

3,300 pennies produced sixteen Wheats, thirteen Canadians, three US dimes and one Uruguay 1 Peso (1994). The Uruguay coin is the first one I've found from that country. It's the tenth new foreign country I've found this year! I now have just four countries left to find in the Americas, Haiti, Suriname, Bolivia and the Falkland Islands. (I haven't found in Chile in circulation. I found it as a coin counter reject.)



1934, 1936, 1940(3), 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946(2), 1947, 1950D, 1952D, 1955, 1956D

Found: 1 penny

Well, the weekend might have been more tiring that Meg and I wanted it to be, I'm still behind in shopping I want to do for Christmas and the kids aren't always on their best behavior these days, but I don't care! I had a nice birthday party and wonderful time at Henry's school yesterday.

On Friday we did our usual and ate at Friendly's. Then on Saturday I attended our church pageant rehearsal with Greg and Evan and Henry and Hazel spent time with their Cioci and Liam. Sunday meant a nice time at church (Hazel's still doing well in the nursery). In the evening Meg threw a birthday part for me at our house. It included a great meal of my favorites, football on TV and some kid crazyness.

Yesterday I went in to work late so I could attend Henry's school art show with Meg, Hazel and Nonnie (my mother-in-law). We had a wonderful 20 minutes. Henry showed us around, we marveled at his artwork (we don't see this level of expertise at home much) and had a snack. Meg and I are so proud of some very nice things the assistant teacher told us about Henry. We think Hazel's going to be ready for school very soon. She thinks she is ready right now.



This is a good shot of Hazel that Henry took with our camera. He's getting much more consistent with his camera work.



Henry and Hazel playing with their computers.



Me opening my birthday gifts with the cousins. At this moment I was looking at Liam's excellent homemade Star Wars birthday card. It says, "Star you are" ... excellent Yoda-speak!



Henry's still life. I think this is his best work yet.



Henry's picture and frame (in the center) as shown with other student's work. The assistant teacher told us that Henry spent almost the whole class making the frame, laying out the jewels exactly as he wanted them.



Henry and Hazel enjoying a snack in Henry's classroom. Hazel made herself instantly at home.

I've searched a lot of coin already this week. It's been decent.

169 small dollars had two mint set dollars (2 x 2005P) and one new one, 2011D Garfield.

11,920 quarters produced three silver Washingtons (1952D, 2 x 1964), fifteen Canadians, eleven US nickels, five US dimes, one UK 10 pence and one Cayman Islands 25¢.

5,550 dimes turned up two silver Rosies (1953D, 1957D), eight Canadians (including one 1959, 80% silver), one Barbados 10¢, one UK 5 pence and one Swiss ½ franc.

3,040 nickels rounded up three War Times (2 x 1943P, 1943D) and nine Canadians (4 Ni). That's only the 2nd 1943D nickel I've found!

2,500 pennies got me thirteen Wheats, twelve Canadians and one Bermuda 1¢

Found: 2 pennies

8,000 halves had nothing.

5,000 pennies produced twenty-one Wheats, thirty-nine Canadians and one Bermuda 1¢.

1917, 1918S, 1936, 1941, 1942(2), 1944, 1945(2), 1945D, 1946, 1949(3), 1952D(2), 1953D, 1955, 1956D(2), 1958

Found: 1 penny, 1 dime

The List

Although he doesn't read Henry still insisted that yesterday Meg show him "The List." We've explained some of Christmas to Henry, but the thing that has stuck with him most is that their is a list of toys that he's getting (somehow). He constantly says, "can we put that on the Christmas list?" and "do you think I'd like that for Christmas?" It's kind of cute. I just sure hope he's not disappointed that everything he's seen between mid November and Christmas isn't under the tree!

Hazel has been blissfully unaware (although yesterday she did want to open up Henry's gift while he was at school). We're very thankful she has been sleeping better and seems to have beaten her sickness. Lot's more talking has begun too! I can't wait to hear what she has to say even more.

I didn't find that much coin towards the latter half of this week. My trip to California kind of disrupted my game a bit.

50 small dollars had nothing.

1,040 quarters produced three Canadians and two US nickels.

700 dimes yielded two Canadians and one Irish 5 pence.

4,150 nickels rounded up one War Time (1943P), thirteen Canadians (6 Ni) and one Swiss 20 Rappen.

9,350 pennies had thirty-six Wheats, forty-five Canadians, one US dime, one Mexican $10 (1989), one Euro 2¢ and one Bahamas 1¢.

1918, 1925, 1929, 1941, 1942, 1944(3), 1945(2), 1946, 1948, 1948S, 1949, 1950D, 1951, 1951D(3), 1952, 1953(2), 1953D(4), 1954D, 1955, 1955D, 1956, 1956D, 1957D(2), 1958, 1958D

5,880 quarters produced silver Washington (1952, 1959D), nine Canadians, four US nickels, three US dimes, one Bermuda 25¢, two arcade tokens and one Lebanonese 500 Livres. The Lebanonese coin is a new country for me! It's the ninth new country of the year. In this batch was also a new modern one for me, the 2011P Chickasaw.



4,500 dimes rounded up four silvers (1944, 1960D, 1961D, 1964), twelve Canadians and one Bermuda 10¢.

Found: two pennies

This weekend it finally felt like the Christmas season to me!

On Friday we just had pizza out, but as usual these days we took the opportunity to take some side streets and find some more Christmas lights for the kids. Henry in particular is very into light displays. It's never been my thing, but since he enjoys it so much I find myself scouting out new streets without him to show him later when he's with me. Even small displays get him going. Hazel sometimes says "whoah" a few seconds later (she's still rear facing) at particularly large displays.

On Saturday I took Henry to VFW Christmas party with my sister, the nephews and my grandfather. Henry called it the "army station" (as opposed to the "police station"). We had a buffet lunch, saw a magician and got presents from Santa. Henry was a bit reluctant to go in (he was dragged in, I didn't have time for fuss), but was great inside. His aunt even got some special lap time with Henry! Premium beers were $2.25 ... I haven't experienced those kind of prices since fifteen years ago in college (or maybe twelve years ago in Poland). In the evening Meg and I were able to go out to Toys 'R Us and Friendly's as my folks were watching the kids.

Sunday, of course, meant church, but Henry and Hazel did very well there. For two weeks in a row now Hazel spent time in the church nursery with no fuss at all. She's not like her brother in that respect!

8,000 halves produced two 90% silver halves (1925 Lexington-Concord, 1964), fifteen 40% silver halves (3 x 1966, 5 x 1967, 3 x 1968D, 4 x 1969D), two proof halves (1999S, 2004S), two commemoratives (1925 Lexington-Concord, 1986S Statue of Liberty) and one Jamaica 50¢. The Lexington-Concord half is the second one I've found, 162,013 were minted. This one was on the end of bank roll so I saw it right away. It's in about the same condition as the other I found three years ago, but I'm still excited about it. It is only the fifth silver commemorative I've found. I hadn't found any commemoratives since April.

6,650 pennies rounded up thirty Wheats, thirty-five Canadians and one US dime. In the Wheats was one I've only found once before, the 1933D, only 6,200,000 were minted.

1919(2), 1933D, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1944, 1944S, 1945(3), 1946(3), 1947D, 1949, 1950, 1951D, 1953(2), 1954D, 1955, 1956D(2), 1957D(5), 1958

I had one of my better change finds today. At the toll booth this morning I got a dateless Buffalo. It's a coin I wouldn't be too excited about if I found it in a roll, but I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild before. I come across them in rolls at a rate of one per 8,054!

Found: one dime

The good news today is that Hazel seems to be doing better. She was still really tired this morning, but her fever wasn't present like it had been for the past three mornings. We're really hoping that's this the end of sickness (for this week, anyway). It's really difficult to see her so achy.

Lately Henry's been trying to spell a lot with some encouragement from Meg and I. I've been trying to get him to read a menu a bit and read Men vs. Women on bathroom doors. It's not always entirely successful though. He told Meg and I that "N-O" spelled "off" and Meg that "L-I-A-M" spelled our last name.

25 small dollars had nothing.

8,200 quarters rounded up one silver Washington (1963), seven Canadians, five US nickels, one Bermuda 25¢, one US dime and one gaming token.

7,550 dimes yielded five silver Rosies (2 x 1946, 1952, 1955, 1957), thirteen Canadians, one Swiss ½ franc and one UK 5 pence. The 1955 is only the second of this one I've found. It's the rarest of the Roosevelt's.

4,920 nickels produced two War Nickels (2 x 1943P), eleven Canadians (1 Ni), two US pennies, four US dimes and a key date Jefferson (1950).

11,650 pennies turned up fifty-five Wheats, eighty-six Canadians, six US dimes and one Euro 2¢.

1938, 1941(3), 1942D, 1944(9), 1945(3), 1946(4), 1948D(2), 1950, 1950D, 1950S, 1951, 1951D, 1952D(3), 1953(5), 1953D, 1953S, 1954D, 1955, 1955D, 1956D(2), 1957, 1957D(3), 1958

Found: 1 penny

Last night's coins were a bit ho-hum.

84 small dollars and 24 half dollars had nothing.

4,040 quarters produced eighteen Canadians, two Bermuda 25¢, two US dimes and one US nickel.

2,950 dimes turned up one silver Rosie (1962D) and five Canadians (including a 1967, 50-80% silver).

1,920 nickels rounded up one War Time (1945P) and two Canadians.

Last week I went on my annual work trip to San Fransisco for a developer conference. While I was gone Henry participated in the Jumpathon at his preschool. Meg and Hazel attended to encourage him and take pictures. I couldn't go because I was on the West Coast. Henry did really well and had lots of fun. He even wore a hat and cheered on his friends!





Henry and Hazel are very into Christmas decorations. We've been driving the long way home in the evenings from wherever we go so that we can see more lights. This weekend we took them to Tower Hill Botanical Gardens to see their trees. They had about twenty all done up. It was a great time. They were both really into it.





Before I left I searched some coin.

50 small dollars and 20 half dollars had nothing.

6,880 quarters produced one proof quarter (2001S RI), sixteen Canadians, eight US nickels, two Dominican Republic 25¢ and one French franc.

4,350 dimes yielded two silver Rosies (1956, 1959), eleven Canadians (including one 1951, 80% silver), one UK 5 pence and one Bermuda 10¢.

1,000 nickels rounded up one dateless Buffalo and four Canadians.

During my trip I concentrated on small dollars and pennies.

871 small dollars turned up one mint set dollar (2002D) and nine new ones (2009D John Tyler, 2010D Millard Fillmore, 2010D Franklin Pierce, 2010D James Buchanan, 2010D Abraham Lincoln, 2011D Sacagawea, 2011D Andrew Johnson, 2011D Ulysses S. Grant, 2011D Rutherford B. Hayes). It's been a long time (since July) that I've found a proof dollar. I'm not sure what's been up with that. In the beginning of the year I had some good luck finding those.

715 halves had nothing.

69,550 pennies got me two hundred sixteen Wheats, eighty-seven Canadians (one was a 1928, George V cent), one Singapore 1¢ (1984), one Barbados 1¢, one Euro 1¢, two Euro 2¢, one Euro 5¢, two UK pennies, one Australian 1¢ (1966), one German 5 Pfennig (1949), thirty-five US dimes and one Hong Kong 20¢ (1975). That breaks a record for me! I've never searched that much during a West Coast trip. I'm sure the housekeeper assigned to me hotel room found it strange to come across the gigantic trash bag stuffed with coin wrappers and a pile of broken down penny boxes. Unfortunately I didn't find any new Wheat varieties, but I did turn up one I have only found once before, the 1921S.

191?-?, 1919, 1919S, 1921S, 1925, 1935D, 1936(2), 1937, 1937D, 1938, 1939, 1940(2), 1940S(2), 1941(6), 1942(4), 1942S(2), 1944(11), 1944D(2), 1944S(8), 1945(6), 1945D(2), 1945S(2), 1946(9), 1946D(3), 1946S(7), 1947S, 1948(2), 1948D(2), 1949, 1949D(3), 1950(2), 1950D, 1950S, 1951D(6), 1951S(3), 1952D(3), 1952S(5), 1953(2), 1953D(6), 1953S(7), 1954, 1954D(4), 1955(2), 1952D(10), 1956, 1956D(17), 1957(3), 1957D(18), 1958, 1958D(32)





I also searched some this weekend.

8,000 halves yielded eight 90% silver halves (1954D, 1961D, 2 x 1963D, 4 x 1964), twelve 40% silver halves (1965, 1966, 6 x 1967, 3 x 1968D, 1969D) and one proof half (1987S).

3,450 pennies rounded up twenty-two Wheats, nineteen Canadians and one US dime.

1929, 1937, 1940, 1942D, 1944(5), 1946(3), 1951, 1952D, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1957D(3), 1958, 1958D(2)

Found: twelve pennies, two US dimes, one $1 bill, one foreign coin (a Canadian dime)